15 Biggest NBA Draft Busts Of All-time

Sam Bowie

Getty Images

ADVERTISEMENT

In the early-to-mid 1980’s, then Portland Trailblazers General Manager Stu Inman was considered to be something of a “basketball genius.” He was so highly thought of that other teams would validate their confidence in a player if Inman believed in that player. Yet, ironically, Inman is the man who will forever be held responsible for the greatest draft night mistake in the history of the NBA, and maybe professional sports: selecting Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan in the 1984 NBA Draft. To make matters worse, Charles Barkley and John Stockton — two future Hall of Fame players — also went in the first round. But “Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan” will forever live in draft infamy. Bowie was a two-time All-American at the University of Kentucky, but he was plagued by injuries in college, and they only got worse in the NBA. As far as Jordan’s career arc? We doubt that needs any explanation.

Joe Barry Carroll (#1 1980) belongs on this list. Golden State traded C Robert Parish and a first round draft pick to Boston for the #1 pick of the 1980 draft. Boston used that pick to draft Kevin McHale. Parish was said to be too soft for a 7′ center – he didn’t rebound enough. With McHale and Larry Bird around him, Parish didn’t have to be an enforcer. The Celtics went to four straight NBA Finals (1984-87) and won two rings. Carroll was even softer than Parish, rarely rebounding. He played apathetically – his nickname “Joe Barely Cares” was well-earned. Teammates sometimes yelled at Carroll to get out of their way. In 1984, Carroll demanded a new contract and left for a year to play in Europe after Golden State refused. Incredibly, the Warriors took him back.